Our views don't matter any more. The Government has today published plans to allow change of use from shops to residential without planning permission. This right won't be limited to empty shops but working businesses.

As a result, I expect shops and businesses in HOP parade to be turned into flats soon. In my view, this will a nice little earner for the landlords but will be detrimental to the community benefits brought by a local shopping area. And don't expect the shops and businesses to come back - shops are less profitable.

The proposals are found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/sy...of_use.pdf